Video Magnablend Chemical Plant Fire In Waxahachie, Texas

[postlink]http://watchtvonlinemovie.blogspot.com/2011/10/video-magnablend-chemical-plant-fire-in.html[/postlink] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02Mbw0eMWUAendofvid[starttext]WAXAHACHIE, Texas — A fire sparked as workers mixed chemicals at a plant south of Dallas shot massive plumes of black smoke and bright orange flames into the sky Monday, forcing schoolchildren and residents to evacuate or take cover indoors to avoid possible exposure to dangerous gases.Video Magnablend Chemical Plant Fire In Waxahachie, Texas.

Flames engulfed a large complex at a Magnablend Inc. facility in Waxahachie. The fast-moving blaze overwhelmed a sprinkler system and consumed a fire truck, but no injuries were reported from the fire or resulting smoke.

Waxahachie Fire Chief David Hudgins said it wasn't immediately clear what chemicals were involved in sparking the fire.

About 1,000 residents who had been evacuated were allowed to return to their homes early Monday evening, said Waxahachie Fire Department spokeswoman Amy Hollywood. Waxahachie, 30 miles south of Dallas, has about 25,000 residents.

The blaze was 95 percent under control by early Monday evening, Hollywood said.
WFAA HD Chopper 8 captured these images of a firetruck as it become engulfed in flames during a chemical manufacturing plant fire at the 1600 block of West 287 in Waxahachie, Monday. October 03 2011

A raging fire at a chemical plant south of Dallas is sending black smoke billowing into the sky.

Bright orange flames and massive plumes of smoke can be seen Monday at the Magnablend Chemical Plant in Waxahachie about 30 miles south of Dallas. Authorities have advised area residents and schoolchildren to stay inside and keep doors and windows shut to avoid any dangerous gases.

Images from local television stations show the fast-moving fire engulfing a fire truck at the scene as firefighters nearby battle the blaze.

Magnablend's website says it is a chemical manufacturing, blending and packaging company. The website says it manufactures custom chemicals for industries ranging from oil fields to construction and industrial cleaning.
In a statement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has monitored air quality both on the ground and through a specially equipped airplane that made several passes through the smoke plume caused by the blaze and officials have not found elevated levels of toxic chemicals. The EPA said it "will continue to conduct ground level air monitoring."

Magnablend spokesman Donald Golden told WFAA-TV that 25 to 30 employees who were inside the plant's 100,000-square-foot warehouse evacuated safely when the fire broke out before 11 a.m. Golden said the company manufactures about 200 products, including some that are hazardous when ignited.

Authorities had ordered residents closest to the plant to evacuate, while others were advised to stay inside with doors and windows shut.

Jessenia Colin, an assistant general manager at a nearby Hampton Inn and Suites, said hotel staff members turned off air vents so smoke and chemicals didn't enter the rooms. As they waited for news and watched the smoke billow, staff covered their mouths to protect against the heavy chemical smell that hung in the air.[endtext]